Rancho Naturalista “Home of the Snowcap”

Main building at Rancho Snowcap

Introduction: Rancho Naturalista is considered to be one of the finest birding lodges in Central America. Rancho is known for its peaceful forest surroundings, comfortable well-kept rooms, excellent meals, family style atmosphere, knowledgeable resident bird guide(s), extensive trail system in pre-montane rainforest, banana and hummingbird feeders for the birds, bird bathing pools, and a bird list for the area of over 400 species, (see checklist). With all of that you can see why it is a favorite destination for birders and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world! Location: Rancho Naturalista is SE of San Jose, 2 ½ hours by vehicle. Its location allows for birding day trips into the adjacent lowlands, middle elevations, and highlands thus providing an even greater diversity of habitats and wildlife.

Room Interior Lounge at Rancho

Accommodations: Rancho Naturalista consists of 14 comfortable and well maintained rooms, all with hot water and private bathrooms. Several of the rooms come with an amazing view of the valley. Balanced, nutritious meals are served family style in the dining room in the main lodge and the water at Rancho is safe to drink as well. International phone service is available along with Internet access via Wifi but you will need to bring your own laptop.

Climate: Rancho Naturalista is located at an elevation of 3,000 feet on the Caribbean slope allowing for mild temperatures in the day and perfect sleeping conditions at night. Rain can occur at anytime but it is expected in the afternoons from May through October, with a break sometime in July to mid August.

ALL INCLUSIVE RATES

Low Season Rates: May, Jun, Aug-Nov

$141.25 per person, per night, double occupancy.

High Season Rates: July, Jan-Apr

$164.00 per person, per night, double occupancy.

Weekly Rates, 7 nights: Rates include weekly discount

Low Season Rate for Week Package:

$918.00 per person, double occupancy.

High Season Rate for Week Package:

$1,065.00 per person, double occupancy.
Montezuma Oropendola Displaying

Single Supplement: The single supplement of $34 per night for April 16 through December and $56 per night for January through April 15 and including July is waived when singles stay in certain designated rooms, all with private bathrooms.

Price Includes:

  • Lodging.
  • 3 delicious meals per nights stay.
  • Coffee, tea, and fruit juice (sodas and alcoholic beverages
    are extra).
  • Maid service.
Guests enjoying lunch

Other activities or services at an additional cost:

  • Knowledgeable Bird Guide for portion or throughout your stay
  • Birding in nearby Tuis Valley.
  • Birding in nearby Silent Mountain.
  • Day tour to Tapanti National Park.
  • Day tour to Irazu Volcano National Park.
  • Day tour to Indian ruins at Guayabo National Monument.
  • Visit to Lankester Gardens in Paraiso (can be combined with
    Irazu or Tapanti).
  • Whitewater rafting on the Reventazon or Pacuare Rivers.
  • Laundry Service at reasonable rates.

Reservations: Rancho Naturalista reservations are made directly through Costa Rica Gateway. Rancho has contracted CRG exclusively for this service and they do not handle reservations directly. CRG does accept bookings from outside agencies. These outside agencies will in turn contact CRG as we organize all of the bookings and collection of funds for Rancho. For this reason and also the fact that CRG is authorized by Rancho to give better group rates, we recommend that you contact us directly.

Birding and Wildlife Attractions/Specialty Birds of Rancho Naturalista